Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

  1. Marine Life and Biodiversity
    1. Planktonic Communities
      1. Plankton Classification
        1. Size Categories
          1. Picoplankton
            1. Nanoplankton
              1. Microplankton
                1. Mesoplankton
                  1. Macroplankton
                  2. Functional Categories
                    1. Phytoplankton
                      1. Zooplankton
                        1. Bacterioplankton
                      2. Phytoplankton
                        1. Diatoms
                          1. Silica Frustules
                            1. Bloom Dynamics
                              1. Ecological Importance
                              2. Dinoflagellates
                                1. Flagellar Locomotion
                                  1. Harmful Algal Blooms
                                    1. Bioluminescence
                                    2. Coccolithophores
                                      1. Calcium Carbonate Plates
                                        1. Carbon Cycling Role
                                        2. Cyanobacteria
                                          1. Nitrogen Fixation
                                            1. Prochlorococcus
                                              1. Synechococcus
                                              2. Seasonal Blooms
                                                1. Spring Bloom Dynamics
                                                  1. Nutrient Depletion
                                                    1. Succession Patterns
                                                  2. Zooplankton
                                                    1. Copepods
                                                      1. Dominant Zooplankton
                                                        1. Feeding Strategies
                                                          1. Life Cycles
                                                          2. Krill
                                                            1. Euphausiids
                                                              1. Swarming Behavior
                                                                1. Food Web Importance
                                                                2. Meroplankton
                                                                  1. Larval Stages
                                                                    1. Developmental Phases
                                                                      1. Settlement Processes
                                                                      2. Gelatinous Zooplankton
                                                                        1. Jellyfish
                                                                          1. Salps
                                                                            1. Ctenophores
                                                                              1. Siphonophores
                                                                          2. Marine Flora
                                                                            1. Macroalgae
                                                                              1. Green Algae
                                                                                1. Chlorophyta Characteristics
                                                                                  1. Habitat Distribution
                                                                                    1. Economic Uses
                                                                                    2. Brown Algae
                                                                                      1. Phaeophyta Features
                                                                                        1. Kelp Species
                                                                                          1. Fucoid Algae
                                                                                          2. Red Algae
                                                                                            1. Rhodophyta Traits
                                                                                              1. Deep Water Adaptations
                                                                                                1. Coralline Algae
                                                                                              2. Marine Angiosperms
                                                                                                1. Seagrasses
                                                                                                  1. Evolutionary Adaptations
                                                                                                    1. Reproductive Strategies
                                                                                                      1. Ecological Functions
                                                                                                      2. Mangroves
                                                                                                        1. Salt Tolerance
                                                                                                          1. Root Adaptations
                                                                                                            1. Reproductive Biology
                                                                                                        2. Marine Invertebrates
                                                                                                          1. Porifera
                                                                                                            1. Structure and Function
                                                                                                              1. Body Organization
                                                                                                                1. Water Flow Systems
                                                                                                                  1. Feeding Mechanisms
                                                                                                                  2. Ecological Roles
                                                                                                                    1. Filter Feeding
                                                                                                                      1. Habitat Provision
                                                                                                                        1. Symbiotic Relationships
                                                                                                                      2. Cnidaria
                                                                                                                        1. Jellyfish
                                                                                                                          1. Medusa Form
                                                                                                                            1. Swimming Mechanisms
                                                                                                                              1. Feeding Strategies
                                                                                                                              2. Sea Anemones
                                                                                                                                1. Polyp Form
                                                                                                                                  1. Attachment Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                    1. Symbiotic Relationships
                                                                                                                                    2. Corals
                                                                                                                                      1. Colonial Organization
                                                                                                                                        1. Calcium Carbonate Skeletons
                                                                                                                                          1. Zooxanthellae Symbiosis
                                                                                                                                        2. Mollusca
                                                                                                                                          1. Gastropods
                                                                                                                                            1. Shell Morphology
                                                                                                                                              1. Feeding Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                1. Locomotion Methods
                                                                                                                                                2. Bivalves
                                                                                                                                                  1. Filter Feeding
                                                                                                                                                    1. Shell Structure
                                                                                                                                                      1. Burrowing Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                      2. Cephalopods
                                                                                                                                                        1. Intelligence and Behavior
                                                                                                                                                          1. Jet Propulsion
                                                                                                                                                            1. Camouflage Abilities
                                                                                                                                                          2. Arthropoda
                                                                                                                                                            1. Crustaceans
                                                                                                                                                              1. Exoskeleton Structure
                                                                                                                                                                1. Molting Process
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Feeding Diversity
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Barnacles
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Sessile Lifestyle
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Filter Feeding
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Larval Development
                                                                                                                                                                      2. Echinodermata
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Starfish
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Radial Symmetry
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Tube Feet System
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Feeding Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                                                              2. Sea Urchins
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Test Structure
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Grazing Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Defensive Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Sea Cucumbers
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Body Wall Structure
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Deposit Feeding
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Defensive Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Marine Vertebrates
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Fishes
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Chondrichthyes
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Cartilaginous Skeletons
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Skeletal Composition
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Flexibility Advantages
                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Sensory Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Electroreception
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Lateral Line System
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Olfactory Abilities
                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Reproductive Strategies
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Internal Fertilization
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Viviparity and Oviparity
                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Osteichthyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Bony Fish Diversity
                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Ray-Finned Fish
                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Lobe-Finned Fish
                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Physiological Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Swim Bladders
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Gill Structure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Osmoregulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Marine Reptiles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Sea Turtles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Shell Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Nesting Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Sea Snakes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Aquatic Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Venom Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Reproductive Strategies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Marine Iguanas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Salt Gland Function
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Diving Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Thermoregulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Seabirds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Adaptations for Marine Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Wing Morphology
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Salt Glands
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Diving Abilities
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Major Groups
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Albatrosses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Soaring Flight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Long-Distance Migration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Gulls
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Opportunistic Feeding
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Colonial Nesting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Penguins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Flightless Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Underwater Propulsion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Marine Mammals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Cetaceans
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Baleen Whales
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Filter Feeding
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Migration Patterns
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Toothed Whales
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Echolocation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Social Structures
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Physiological Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Diving Physiology
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Thermoregulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Pinnipeds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Seals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Aquatic Locomotion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Diving Capabilities
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Sea Lions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Terrestrial Mobility
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Social Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Breeding and Haul-Out Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Rookery Formation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Pupping Seasons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Sirenians
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Manatees
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Freshwater Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Feeding Ecology
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Dugongs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Seagrass Specialization
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Habitat Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Adaptations to the Marine Environment
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Osmoregulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Salt Balance Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Ion Regulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Water Balance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Marine Fish Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Drinking Seawater
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Gill Salt Excretion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Marine Mammal Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Kidney Efficiency
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Behavioral Strategies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Thermoregulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Endothermy vs Ectothermy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Metabolic Heat Production
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Temperature Independence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Insulation Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Blubber Layers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Feather Insulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Countercurrent Heat Exchange
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Buoyancy Control
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Gas Bladders
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Swim Bladder Function
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Pressure Compensation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Lipid Storage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Neutral Buoyancy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Energy Storage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Hydrodynamic Shapes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Streamlined Bodies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Drag Reduction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Bioluminescence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Chemical Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Luciferin-Luciferase Reactions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Light Production Efficiency
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Ecological Functions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Predator Avoidance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Prey Attraction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Communication
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Echolocation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Sound Production and Reception
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Biosonar Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Sound Frequency Ranges
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Use in Navigation and Hunting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Object Detection
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Prey Location
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Spatial Orientation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Adaptations to High Pressure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Cellular Adaptations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Protein Modifications
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Membrane Composition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Structural Modifications
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Gas-Filled Organs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Tissue Compression Resistance

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Go to top

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Ecological Processes and Dynamics